Seeks Ghosts: The Royal Ghosts of Windsor Castle Monday, October 7, 2013 The Royal Ghosts of Windsor Castle Windsor Castle located in Berkshire England is the oldest and largest castle in the world. It has been continuously occupied for almost 1000 years. It is the official residence of the British monarchy. Today 500 people live and work in Windsor. Witnesses state that several ghostly former members of the English royal family also reside in the castle. In the 16th century King Henry Vlll ruled Britain and Wales. * His ghost has been heard wandering the castle’s halls and corridors. He is heard groaning and dragging his ulcerated leg in the Cloisters which is the condition that eventually caused his death in 1547. Several witnesses have described him as “being a large anxious, angry man” he is heard pacing back and forth and sometimes he is heard shouting. A more recent sighting occurred in the mid 1970s. Castle guards saw the former monarch walk through the battlements. Later they were told that there used to be a door at the spot they saw his ghost disappear.

Henry Vlll had two of his wives beheaded, Anne Boleyn who is also seen at Winsor and her cousin Catherine Howard who haunts Hampton Court which I wrote about in another post. Anne not able to give Henry a son and heir was found guilty of treason, adultery and witchcraft. She was executed at the Tower of London in 1536. Her ghost has been seen in the Dean’s Cloister at Windsor. She is spotted peering through windows. Some have stated she appeared to be sad, others have stated they saw her weeping. One fanciful legend states she is seen running holding her head under her arm. King Henry’s youngest daughter, Queen Elizabeth l is said to haunt the royal library at Winsor. Witnesses have heard the sound of her clicking heels as she moves around this wood floor room. She is seen wearing a black dress and shawl. Both members of the royal family and staff had seen her ghost over the years. One witness, King George lll not only saw her he talked to her. She told him that she was Elizabeth and that she “was married to England.” One hundred years after this encounter Edward Vll told his mistress that he had seen her ghost.

He described her dressed all in black stating she resembled the “the great tudor queen.” Princess Margaret also saw Elizabeth’s ghost. In recent years a guard saw her ghost, he followed her to the library where she then just disappeared as he watched her. She is considered a harbinger because she has appeared just before war breaks out. George Vl saw her several nights in a row just as World War ll began. Another English king seen at Windsor is George lll. He suffered from mental illness during his reign in the 1700s. When he had bad spells he was kept from prying eyes in a room located below the library. His ghost was often seen during the Victorian era standing at the libraries’ windows or in the doorway. Military Guardsmen at Windsor have seen his ghost staring down at them from a window as they perform their various duties. Several have admitted to being rattled by this strange sight. Other witnesses have heard him mutter a phrase he was fond of saying while alive, "What, what?' He was unhappy in life but some witnesses have stated that they actually saw his ghost smiling. The last royal known to haunt Winsor is Queen Victoria.

Ironically, while alive she attempted to get rid of a ghost that hundreds of people had seen over a period of 250 years. ** Herne the Hunter, Richard ll's forester hung himself from an oak tree because he was dismissed from service. Witnesses have seen him wearing deer skins and a helmet adorned with antlers. In the 1860s Queen Victoria had this tree chopped down and then she burned the logs as fire wood in an attempt to get rid of his spirit--it didn't work. Her ghost made an appearance during Edward’s Vlll's very brief reign. A short time after his father died he started to modify the Windsor grounds at the request of his lover, Wallace Simpson whom he abdicated the throne for. She requested several spruce trees be removed that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had planted. As the workmen proceeded to cut these trees down several inexplicable incidents occurred that hampered their work. These strange occurrences were explained when Queen Victoria’s displeased ghost was seen running from the castle in their direction. She was moaning loudly and waving her arms frantically. * Yet another monarch who haunts Windsor who reigned after HenryVlll's time was Charles l.

He was accused of treason and held as a prisoner at Windsor Castle for his role in the English Civil War, he was found guilty and decapitated in 1649. He is buried in a vault at Windsor along with Henry Vlll. His ghost has been seen in the Cannon's house but most often he is seen standing near a table in the royal library. ** Windsor also has a variety of other ghosts that were not members of the royal family. In future, I will share some of their stories. Click to enlarge Windsor Castle, Buckinghamshire, England Windsor Castle, Buckinghamshire, England Details Haunted Castles Windsor Castle is without doubt one of the most spectacular castles in Britain, if not the world. Many famous ghosts have been reported haunting the castle, including Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and a demonic horned being that brings death to all that see it. It has been a Royal residence since the reign of William I in the 11th century. In the 13th century the castle was rebuilt by Edward III, and further improvements have been made by successive monarchs. The castle is almost one mile in circumference and is the largest in Britain.

Since it was built, the Castle has been embroiled in legends of suicide, witchcraft and demonic ghosts. The list of ghostly sightings reported at the Castle is huge. One of the most famous ghosts reported at the Castle is that of King Henry VIII. Guests staying at the castle have reported hearing the king's footsteps along the long hallways of the Castle. Some have even claimed to hear moans and groans coming from the hallway. One of his wives, Anne Boleyn, has been seen standing at the window in the Dean's Cloister. Queen Elizabeth I is said to haunt the Royal Library and has been seen by several members of the Royal family. The sounds of her high heels are heard on bare floorboards, before her imposing figure appears and passes through the library and into an inner room. She has also been seen standing at the window in the Dean's Cloister. She is always dressed in a black gown with a black lace shawl draped over her shoulders. There is a demonic horned being said to bring death and disease to those who are unfortunate enough to see it, especially the Royal family. Other legends tell of witchcraft and suicide.

In the last 250 years, hundreds of people have claimed to have seen the spirit of Herne the Hunter, who was the favourite huntsman of King Richard II. He is often seen accompanied by his pack of hounds, careering across the Great Park searching for lost souls. The story is that Herne was one of the Royal keepers in the time of King Richard II (1367-1400). Herne had two large black hounds and was hated by the other keepers because of his great skill. One evening King Richard was hunting a stag in the grounds of Windsor Park, but the stag turned on him and he would have been killed if Herne hadn't stood between the enraged animal and Richard. However, Herne was fatally wounded and fell to the ground. At this point a strange dark man appeared and said he could cure Herne. Richard asked him to go ahead and the dark man cut the stag's head off and put it on Herne's body. The Dark Man then took Herne away to his hut on Bagshot Heath some miles away, to complete the cure. The King was so grateful to Herne that he swore that if Herne recovered he would make him his chief keeper.

The other keepers disliked Herne so much that they wished that he would die. The Dark Man overheard them and offered them a bargain - if they would grant him the first request he made, he would ensure that, though Herne would recover, he would lose all his hunting skills. They agreed and everything happened as the Dark Man said. Herne was so distraught at the loss of his skill that he found a mighty oak in Windsor Park and hanged himself from it. Instantly, his body disappeared. The other keepers weren't happy for long though, because they too lost all their hunting abilities. They found the Dark Man and asked him to help them. He said that if they went to the oak the following night, they would have a solution to their problem. When they went to the Oak, the spirit of Herne appeared to them. He told them to go and fetch his hounds and horses for a chase. This they did and when they returned, Herne took them to a Beech tree. There he invoked the Dark Man who burst from the tree in a shower of sparks and flame. His first request of the unfortunate keepers was that they form a band for Herne the Hunter.

Bound by their oath, they had to swear allegiance to Herne. After that, night after night, they hunted through the forests. The ghostly hunt's approach is presaged by flashes of lightning, wind in the tree tops, the rattling of chains and tolling of bells and the terrible din of a pack of dogs in mad pursuit. As the legend goes, if you hear the baying of the ghostly hounds in the sky, run away, because if they catch you, you too will be forced to follow Herne and his Wild Hunt, ranging across the night skies for eternity. In the early 1860's the tree from which Herne was found hanging, was cut down, and Queen Victoria kept the oak logs for her fire "To help kill the ghost". Her plan didn't work however. King Charles I has often been seen in the library and the Canon's house. Although he was beheaded during the English Revolution, his ghost is seen as a whole. It is reported that he looks exactly like his portraits. King George III had many bouts with mental deterioration. During these times he was kept out of the public's eye.

He has been seen looking out the windows located below the Royal Library, where he was confined during the recurrence of his illness. Sir George Villiers, The first Duke of Buckingham, is said to haunt one of the bedrooms of Windsor castle. The Deanery is haunted by a young boy who shouts, "I don't want to go riding today". It is probably his footsteps which are heard in the same building. The 'Prison Room' in the Norman Tower is haunted, possibly by a former Royalist prisoner from Civil War times. Children playing there have seen him and adults have felt him brush past. Ghostly footsteps are often heard on the staircase in the Curfew Tower. On one occasion, the bells began to swing on their own while the temperature became distinctly chilly. In 1873, a night-time visitor to the castle noticed an interesting new statuary group had been erected near St. George's Chapel: three standing figures, all in black, and a fourth crouching down. The central standing character was in the act of striking with a large sword. The sentry knew nothing of this artwork and when the visitor returned to re-examine it, it had gone!

Many spirits haunt the Long Walk, one of whom is a young Grenadier Guard who shot himself while on duty there in the 1920s. During his guard watch, he saw marble statues moving "of their own accord." He was seen by at least two of his colleagues, immediately after his death. Search Haunted Castles England - Windsor Castle Haunted Castles England Medieval Castle Blog Windsor Castle Windsor Castle was constructed by William the Conqueror and it is one of the largest castles as well as the oldest continuously occupied castle in the world. William chose this site because it was a day's march from the Tower of London and it would make a good fortress to guard the western approaches to the capital. It was Henry II in the last third of the 12th century who rebuilt the round Tower in stone instead of the wood in which it had formerly been constructed. He also rebuilt the royal apartments on the Upper Ward. Edward III also extended the castle creating the immense St George's Hall which would be used by the Knights of the Order of the Garter. Edward IV began and Henry VIII completed St George's Chapel which is probably one of the finest examples of late mediaeval architecture in Western Europe.

Charles I, after his capture by Cromwell was held captive at the castle before being put on trial and executed in London and after his execution, his body was returned for burial in St George's Chapel. It is also said to be the present Queen's favourite residence and interestingly enough one of the ghosts said to haunt Windsor Castle is that of her namesake Elizabeth 1st. Apparently she glides through the library wall into a locked up room and also on occasions her presence is felt or perhaps her footsteps heard in other areas of the castle. The aforementioned King Charles I is said to have on occasion haunted the Canons house in the area of the castle's St George's Chapel where Cromwell imprisoned him and nearby in the deanery of the chapel, there is a ghost of a small boy who is said to regularly shout "I don't want to go riding today" and following this, his footsteps can be heard moving away. In the castle grounds in 1906 one of the sentries from the Coldstream Guards was on patrol in the East Terrace when he saw a group of men. Naturally he challenged them but he received no answer and he opened fire only to see his bullets passed straight through them!

Apparently he then charged the group but they just disappeared. However, possibly the most famous ghost associated with Windsor Castle may be found in the depths of Windsor Forest. His name is Herne the Hunter and he is even referred to in Shakespeare's 'Merry Wives of Windsor'. The story goes that Herne was Richard IIs favourite huntsman who had at one time saved the King's life whilst unfortunately being wounded at the same time. Eventually, Herne made a complete recovery and as the King had promised him, he was made head huntsman. Sadly however he was soon dismissed from his post because he appeared to have lost all his skills and in a deep depression he hanged himself from the branch of an oak tree in Windsor Forest. It is said that on certain dark stormy nights, a ghostly band of hunters led by Herne himself are to be seen galloping wildly through Windsor great Park along with a pack of equally ghostly hounds. Any sighting of this band of spectres is always thought to be a portent of some kind of national disaster soon to occur! The Ghosts of Windsor Castle – Royal Central Queen Mother’s Scottish retreat haunted by The Green Lady It is The Queen’s weekend home and is apparently her favourite royal residence.

But did you know that Windsor Castle is also the home of many royals from years and centuries gone by. In this piece we explore the ghostly goings on at Windsor Castle and just who haunts the 1000 year old fortress. King Henry VIII The ghost of the second Tudor King is said to be Windsor Castle’s most famous haunting. King Henry VIII in his time as monarch, amongst other things, dissolved the monasteries and married six wives, two of whom he had beheaded. The spirit of Henry VIII is said to have been witnessed on a number of occasions wondering the halls and corridors of the Castle. Guests staying at the castle are said to have heard the footsteps of the King and some have even heard his moans and groans coming from the hallway. Those that have encountered the ghost of Henry VIII have described a large anxious, angry man pacing furiously and shouting loudly. Anne Boleyn The second wife of King Henry VIII is also one of the most famous hauntings at Windsor Castle. After her arrest in 1536 on charges of treason, adultery and witchcraft Anne Boleyn was beheaded at the Tower of London.

It is reported that Anne Boleyn haunts the Dean’s Cloister at Windsor Castle where her ghostly form has been seen peering from a window where she is said to look sad, distressed and sometimes looks as if she is weeping. Queen Elizabeth I Good Queen Bess is said to haunt the Royal Library at Windsor Castle, with the sound of her high heels being heard on the bare floorboards before her figure appears and she passes through the library to an inner room. It is said that Elizabeth has a liking for dropping in on her ancestors, with several members of royalty having witnessed the ghost of The Virgin Queen. King George III once claimed to have conversed with a spectral woman, who was dressed in black and claimed to be ‘married to England’. King Edward VII confided in one of his many mistresses about his encounter with a woman dressed in black, who resembled the Tudor Queen. Even our present Queen’s father, King George VI, is said to have observed the ghost of Elizabeth I on eight consecutive nights during the opening days of the Second World War. King George III During his reign King George III suffered from several bouts of mental illness and the troubled soul is said to still haunt the royal residence.

When the King became ill, he was taken from London and Windsor Castle was used to cloister the monarch. George spent many a dark night confined within the walls of Windsor Castle. The ghost of King George III has been witnessed many times since the Victorian era, peering mournfully through the windows and doors of the Castle. Queen Victoria The queen who gave her name to a whole period of British history is said to haunt Windsor Castle because she was unhappy with the alterations that her great-grandson, King Edward VIII, made to the residence. Though he was a King who was never crowned, Edward quickly set about changing things at Windsor at the request of Wallis Simpson, who wanted spruce trees planted by Victoria and Prince Albert uprooted. The work was hindered by some unexplained phenomena with some workmen in 1936 claiming to see the ghost of Queen Victoria crossing the grounds, waving her arms and moaning loudly. King Charles I The ghost of the Stuart king has been seen on numerous occasions in the Library and the Canon’s house. Though the King lost his head during the English Civil War, Charles as a ghost is seen whole.

Whilst the majority of ghostly goings on at Windsor Castle are from past Royal Family members, there are a few ‘normal’ haunted happenings at the residence including a young boy in The Deanery who shouts “I don’t want to go riding today.” The ‘Prison Room’ in the Norman Tower is said to be haunted by a former Royalist prisoner from the Civil War. The Long Walk is said to be haunted by many spirits including that of a Grenadier Guard, who shot himself while on duty there in the 1920s. So as we come to the end of our spooky season on Royal Central, we wish you a Happy Halloween and after hearing of all these royal, ghostly goings on there is just one thing left to say…. Sleep Tight! I enjoyed reading this! Very spooky… British Royals latest Windsor Castle Ghosts The Ghosts of Windsor Castle Windsor Castle is one of the many homes of the present Queen of England, several of her royal ancestors, and "non-royal" spirits, one of whom, according to legend was an ancient Saxon hunter named Herne, who was renowned thought out the area for his outstanding hunting abilities.

One story tells of Herne, as one of the Royal keepers for King Richard II (1367-1400), who was hated by the other keepers for his extraordinary skills. One day the King was in danger of being trampled by an incensed stag while hunting and how Herne putting himself between the King and the stag was mortally wounded. In the last 250 years, hundreds of people have claimed to have seen his spirit, often accompanied by his pack of hounds. In the early 1860's the tree from which he was found hanging, was cut down, and Queen Victoria kept the oak logs for her fire "To help kill the ghost". Her plan didn't work however. Other legends tell of witchcraft and suicide, and a demonic horned being upon whose appearance brings illness and misfortune to all who see him, especially the Royal family. He can be seen in Windsor castleï¿½s gardens with "his trademark stagï¿½s head." King Henry VIII has been seen walking the hallways of Windsor castle . His footsteps, along with agonizing moans, have been heard by many guests of the castle.

One of his wives, Anne Boleyn, has been seen standing at the window in the Deanï¿½s Cloister, as well as, Queen Elizabeth I. Queen Elizabeth I has also been seen in the Royal Library. She has been seen walking from one room to another. She is always dressed in a black gown with a black lace shawl draped over her shoulders. King Charles I has been seen many times in the library and the Canonï¿½s house, and although he was beheaded during the English Revolution, his ghost is seen as a whole. It is said he looks exactly like his portraits. King George III had many bouts with mental deterioration. During these times he was kept out of the publicï¿½s eye. He can be seen looking out the windows located below the Royal Library where he was confined during the recurrence of his illness. The first Duke of Buckingham, Sir George Villiers, is said to haunt one of the bedrooms of Windsor castle. And many spirits haunt the Long Walk, one of whom is a young solider who shot himself after, while on his guard watch, saw marble statues moving "of their own accord." His ghost has seen by other soldiers on guard duty afterwards.

I hope you have enjoyed this article and I look forward to your company again in the not to distant future. Best wishes and have a great day Stuart Bazga A Guide to Castles of Europe was born from childhood dreams and aspirations. It is my hope to educate and stimulate you into exploring these castles for yourselves. Windsor Castle and the Ghosts Windsor Castle and the Ghosts Windsor Castle and the Long Walk Windsor Castle from the Air. Photo. Mark S Jobling Windsor Castle is one of the largest and most magnificant royal residences in the world. It is situated in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire on the bank of the Thames. The site was purchased by William the conqueror from the monks of Westmin- ster Abbey. He built a castle here.Edward III erected a massive round tower which still stands, and later monarchs made many additions.

Extensive improve ments begun in the reign of George IV were completed in the reign of Queen Victoria.The buildings may be said to be grouped in three portions: the middle ward containing the Round Tower; the lower ward on the west con- taining St.George's Chapel, the houses of the military knights, cloisters, etc; and the upper ward on the east containing the state apartments, the private apartments of the sovereign and the visitors apartments. Beneath St. George's Chapel are buried Edward IV, Henry VI, Henry VIII and Jane Seymore, Charles I, George III and his queen, and many other members of the royal family. The Ghosts of Windsor Castle Windsor Castle is one of the many homes of the present Queen of England, several of her royal ancestors, and "non-royal" spirits, one of whom, according to legend was an ancient Saxon hunter named Herne, who was renowned thought out the area for his outstanding hunting abilities. One story tells of Herne, as one of the Royal keepers for King Richard II (1367-1400), who was hated by the other keepers for his extraordinary skills.

One day the King was in danger of being trampled by an incensed stag while hunting and how Herne putting himself between the King and the stag was mortally wounded. In the last 250 years, hundreds of people have claimed to have seen his spirit, often accompanied by his pack of hounds. In the early 1860's the tree from which he was found hanging, was cut down, and Queen Victoria kept the oak logs for her fire "To help kill the ghost". Her plan didn't work however. Other legends tell of witchcraft and suicide, and a demonic horned being upon whose appearance brings illness and misfortune to all who see him, especially the Royal family. He can be seen in Windsor castleï¿½s gardens with "his trademark stagï¿½s head." King Henry VIII has been seen walking the hallways of Windsor Castle. His footsteps, along with agonizing moans, have been heard by many guests of the castle. One of his wives, Anne Boleyn, has been seen standing at the window in the Deanï¿½s Cloister, as well as, Queen Elizabeth I. Queen Elizabeth I has also been seen in the Royal Library.

She has been seen walking from one room to another. She is always dressed in a black gown with a black lace shawl draped over her shoulders. King Charles I has been seen many times in the library and the Canonï¿½s house, and although he was beheaded during the English Revolution, his ghost is seen as a whole. It is said he looks exactly like his portraits.King George III had many bouts with mental deterioration. During these times he was kept out of the publicï¿½s eye. He can be seen looking out the windows located below the Royal Library where he was confined during the recurrence of his illness. The first Duke of Buckingham, Sir George Villiers, is said to haunt one of the bedrooms of Windsor castle. And many spirits haunt the Long Walk, one of whom is a young solider who shot himself after, while on his guard watch, saw marble statues moving "of their own accord." His ghost has seen by other soldiers on guard duty afterwards. By Stuart Bazga. Windsor Castle Windsor Castle Windsor is included in our 16 days "Best Castles of Britain and Ireland" tour. Visit our site. The following information was researched by our volunteer team member Carolyn D.

Ahrns from Las Vegas, NV. Thank you very much! Location: London, England There has been a castle on this site for over 900 years. Windsor Castle is still lived in to this day and it is the "largest inhabited castle in the world." THE GHOSTS: It is the home of the present Queen of England, several of her royal ancestors, and "non-royal" spirits, one of whom, according to legend was an ancient Saxon hunter named Herne, who was renowned thought out the area for his outstanding hunting abilities. One story tells of Herne, as one of the Royal keepers for King Richard II (1367-1400), who was hated by the other keepers for his exceptional skills. One day the King was in danger of being trampled by an enraged stag while hunting and how Herne putting himself between the King and the stag was mortally wounded. Other legends tell of witchcraft and suicide, and a demonic horned being upon whose appearance brings illness and misfortune to all who see him, especially the Royal family.

He can be seen in the castleï¿½s gardens with "his trademark stagï¿½s head." King Henry VIII has been seen walking the hallways of the castle. His footsteps, along with agonizing moans, have been heard by many guests of the castle. One of his wives, Anne Boleyn, has been seen standing at the window in the Deanï¿½s Cloister, as well as, Queen Elizabeth I. Queen Elizabeth I has also been seen in the Royal Library. She has been seen walking from one room to another. She is always dressed in a black gown with a black lace shawl draped over her shoulders. King Charles I, has been seen many times in the library and the Canonï¿½s house, and although he was beheaded during the English Revolution, his ghost is seen as a whole. It is said he looks exactly like his portraits. King George III had many bouts with mental deterioration. During these times he was kept out of the publicï¿½s eye. He can be seen looking out the windows located below the Royal Library where he was confined during the recurrence of his illness.

The first Duke of Buckingham, Sir George Villiers, is said to haunt one of the bedrooms of the castle. And many spirits haunt the Long Walk, one of whom is a young solider who shot himself after, while on his guard watch, he saw marble statues moving "of their own accord." He ghost was seen by another solider on guard duty afterwards. HISTORY: Windsor Castle has been a Royal residence "since the reign of William I, (1066-1087). In the 13th century the castle was rebuilt by Edward III, and further improvements have been made by successive monarchs. The castle is almost one mile in circumference and is the largest in Britain. 900 years after itï¿½s first foundation was laid, it is still used today as one of the Queenï¿½s official Royal residents. The original Norman castle consists of the Middle Ward, the Round Tower was built in 1272 by Henry III, and was extended in 1344 by Edward III. In the Lower Ward, the Horseshoe Cloister, the Chapel of Saint George, and the Deanery were all built during the late medieval period.

The Chapel of Saint George was begun by Edward IV in 1475 and completed by Henry VIII. It is dedicated to the patron Saint of the order of the Garter, Britain's highest Order of Chivalry. It is famous for its fan vaulting and for the banners and stalls for the Knights of the Garter, and many monarchs and royals are buried here, including Henry VIII, Jane Seymore, Edward VII and Alexandra, George the V and Mary, Charles I and George VI. King Henry VII built the Albert Memorial Chapel and it was rebuilt by Queen Victoria. The Upper Ward was begun by Henry II (1154-1189) and completed by Charles II (1660-1685). It includes the Throne Room, Saint George's Hall, and the great Reception Room. The Upper Ward contains the State Apartments which are used for Court ceremonial and State official occasions. The monarchï¿½s private apartments, visitorï¿½s apartments, and holds a priceless collection of paintings, drawings and the Royal Art Collection.

On November 20, 1992 a devastating fire destroyed over 100 rooms including the 14th century roof and 19th century Gothic Revival interior of St. Georgeï¿½s Hall. Most of the Royal art collection was saved, but the greatest loss was Sir William Beecheyï¿½s enormous equestrian portrait of George III which was beyond repair. Renovations began immediately, and the castle was reopened in its entirety in November 1997. Many discoveries were made during the restoration. Fragments of Antonio Verrioï¿½s 17th century mural for Charles II had been found under layers of plaster in St. Georgeï¿½s Hall. 14th century timbers were discovered in the Great Kitchen, and a medieval well was found that reached down to the Thames River. Northeast "of the castle is Home Park," 500 acres of land which contains the "Royal Mausoleum, where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are buried.

South of the castle is Windsor Great Park (about 1,800 acres) with its fine old trees, traversed by the Long Walk, at the end of which is Snow Hill, which commands a magnificent view of the castle." Windsor Castle Ghosts Windsor Castle Ghosts The Windsor Castle ghosts are probably the largest regal of Royal spectres to be found in any one place in the entire world. This is only fitting for the castle that is, according to the official website for Windsor 'the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen'. Henry VIII ghost The first of the famous Windsor Castle ghosts is King Henry VIII . He is not seen but he is heard in the Cloisters, groaning and dragging his ulcerated leg which was the eventual cause of his death. King Henry is buried at Windsor Castle, in a vault in St. George's Chapel with his third wife, Jane Seymour. In the same vault are the mortal remains of King Charles I who has been seen in the Canon's house and who is said to look exactly like his portrait. Queen Elizabeth I ghost The youngest daughter of Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I , haunts the Royal Library.

Her high heels are heard on bare floorboards and go across the library and into an inner room. Her spectre has also been seen at a window in Dean's Cloister where she always wears a black gown with a black shawl over her shoulders. Elizabeth is not buried at Windsor but at Westminster Abbey, so maybe she just likes it here. It is her spirit who has allegedly been seen by a member of the Royal Family. King George III spectre King George III is buried here and he was confined to a room below the library during his periods of 'madness'. He would watch from a window his troops drilling on the parade ground. Guardsmen have occasionally been startled to see his face still looking out through the window. One of the non-royal Windsor Castle ghosts that is sometimes seen in the Long Walk is a guard who shot himself in 1927. Apparently, in life, he was a very unhappy man. However, it looks like he might have found happiness in death that he couldn't in life as his phantom has been seen smiling. Hern the Hunter Of course the most famous of the Windsor Castle ghosts is Hern the Hunter and he actually haunts Windsor Great Park.

The story is that he was a huntsman to King Richard II. The King was out hunting and injured a stag. The enraged animal turned on the king and Hern, in order to save his sovereigns life, threw himself in front of the charging beast. As he lay dying, a wizard appeared and said that the only way to save Hern's life was to cut off the stag's antlers and to tie them to Hern's head. This was done and Hern recovered and became, not surprisingly, a great favourite of the king. Unfortunately, the other huntsmen were jealous and, in order to keep the peace, the king reluctantly dismissed him. Hern was devastated and went into the forest and hanged himself from a great oak tree. And it is in Windsor Great Park near where the tree once stood that he is supposed to be seen, usually when England is in dire trouble. He has antlers on his head and is covered in chains. A modern day sighting! Some people have suggested that Hern is one of the Windsor Castle ghosts that is just folklore, perhaps a distant memory of the Celtic god, Cernunnos . However, in 1962, a group of youths found a hunting horn in the forest and blew it.

Immediately, the call was answered by another horn and the baying of many hounds. Then Hern himself appeared with the antlers on his head and riding a black horse. Not surprisingly, the youths ran for their lives! Ghosts of Windsor Castle. Berkshire - Haunted Island Ghosts of Windsor Castle. Berkshire Tweet For over a 1000 years Windsor Castle as stood, it is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Standing in the county of Berkshire, it is also the home to many a Ghosts and tales of supernatural haunting. Windsor Castle has numerous ghosts and paranormal activity. Built in the reign of William the Conquerer, and dating back to the Middle Ages, many people, both royal and common folk alike have died within the confines of the Castle walls and grounds. Some of many reported ghosts of Windsor castle are listed below. The Ghost of Henry VIII The first of the famous Windsor Castle ghosts is King Henry VIII .

Henry VIII was the Tudor King who ruled England and Wales during the 16th Century, Henry VIII famously dissolved the monasteries and broke away from the Papacy in Rome and established the Church of England, initiating the English Reformation.King Henry is reputed to have been heard in the Cloisters, wandering the castle halls and corridors and is heard groaning and seen dragging his ulcerated leg which was the eventual cause of his death on 28th January 1547. King Henry is buried at Windsor Castle, in a vault in St. George’s Chapel with his third wife, Jane Seymour. In the same vault are the remains of King Charles I who has been seen in the Canon’s house . On the rare occasions where King Henry VIII has been witnessed his ghost is described as a large anxious, angry man pacing furiously and occasionally shouting as well. The Ghost of Anne Boleyn Whenever Henry VIII is mentioned, tales and stories to his his executed wife Anne Boleyn follow shortly after. The ghosts of Windsor castle is no exception to the rule, The wife to Henry VIII and former queen of England.

Before her execution in 1536 Anne Boleyn; King Henry claimed that she had used witchcraft to make him fall in love with her. Interestingly she was never charged with being a witch, and witchcraft did not end up among the charges used by the court which ultimately found her guilty of treason and adultery. Anne Boleyn was beheaded at the Tower of London, her body and head were buried in an unmarked grave in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula which adjoined the Tower Green. Anne Boleyn body was one that was identified in renovations of the chapel under the reign of Queen Victoria. Anne Boleyn final resting place is now marked in the marble floor. The ghost of Anne Boleyn is alleged to haunt the Dean’s Cloister at Windsor Castle. Her ghostly form has been seen peering from a window with a sad and distressed faced and occasionally weeping. The Ghost of Elizabeth I The youngest daughter of Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I , haunts the Royal Library, the sound of her high heels have been heard on bare floorboards. Elizabeth I has also been seen on numerous occasions by several members of the Royal family and staff.

Her ghostly spectre has been seen at a window in Dean’s Cloister where she always wears a black gown with a black shawl over her shoulders. King George III, who spent many lonely nights at Windsor Castle, once claimed to have conversed with a ghostly woman dressed in black, who called herself Elizabeth and claimed to be “married to England’. Over a hundred years later, Edward VII is also alleged to have confided in one of his mistresses about a strange ghostly encounter he had had in Windsor Castle with a woman in dressed black, who resembled the great Tudor queen. The appearance of Queen Elizabeth’s are said to be linked to the advent of war. George VI, is said to have observed the ghost of Elizabeth I on several consecutive nights, during the opening days of the Second World War, its not know if he had a conversation with his ghostly guest or not. The Ghost of (Mad) King George III King George III was born on the 4th June 1738. And faced several years of military conflict all over the globe during the early years of his reign.

In his later years the King suffered from several spells of mental illness, which resulted in his royal executive powers being transferred to his son George, the Prince of Wales. During the King’s periods of ill-health and mental instability he often would be taken away from public view. Windsor Castle was regularly used to clam the King and provide a retreat away from the pressures of public life and the prying eyes of those who looked to make advantage from his ill state. During his periods of ‘madness’ he was confined to a room below the library, it is here, often that the ghost of George III has been witnessed since the Victorian era, mournfully peering through the Library windows and door way. Military Guardsmen have occasionally been startled to see his face still looking out through the window whilst on sentry and duties. King George III died on the 16th February 1820 and is buried in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle The Ghost of Queen Victoria Clearly Queen Victoria was “not amused” by the alterations made to the Castle grounds by her great grandson, Edward VIII. Although Edward only reigned in theory, the errant King quickly set about modifying the grounds of Windsor Castle following his father’s death.

When his lover, Wallace Simpson, requested the removal of a family of spruce trees planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, he was quick to oblige. The work was hampered however by a number of inexplicable phenomena. Workmen in 1936 even claimed to have seen the ghostly figure of Victoria striding towards them from the Castle, waving her arms and moaning loudly. The Many Haunted Rooms and Locations within Windsor Castle The Deanery is haunted by the ghost of a young boy who shouts, “I don’t want to go riding today”. It is also reported that sound of the ghostly boys footsteps can be heard crossing the building. The ‘Prison Room’ in the Norman Tower is apparently haunted by a former Royalist prisoner dating back to the times of the English Cilvil War . The first Civil War dated (1642–46) and second (1648–49) was between the supporters of King Charles I against the supporters of the Long Parliament, while the third war (1649–51) saw fighting between supporters of King Charles II and supporters of the Rump Parliament.

The Civil War ended with the Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651. Both Children playing there have seen the Royalist prisoner whilst many adults visitors have felt him brush past their persons. In the Curfew Tower, ghostly footsteps are heard on the staircase, the tower bells on one occasion where said to have swung on their own while the ambient temperature of the bell room became cold without warning. Moving over to a kitchen in one of the buildings which make up the horseshoe cloisters, the kitchen is haunted by the ghostly figure of a man and horse. They walk straight through the wall. The history records for Windsor Castle state that the cloisters were once the cavalry stables. In 1873, a night-time visitor to the castle noticed an interesting new statuary group had been erected near St. George’s Chapel: three standing figures, all in black, and a fourth crouching down. The central standing character was in the act of striking with a large sword. The sentry knew nothing of this artwork and when the visitor returned to re-examine it, it had gone! One of the most reported sightings at Windsor Castle is the ghost of Herne the Hunter.

Herne the became the favoured huntsman of King Richard II when he saved the monarch from being mauled to death by a cornered stag. Being wounded in the process, there are accounts that he was later healed through witchcraft and the wearing of the stag’s antlers. Although this may likely just be an interpretation of a reward by the King for his act of valour. Do to the favour shown by King Richard II, and mounting jealousy within the ranks, Hern took his own life after being framed for theft from the King, by hanging himself from ‘Herne’s Oak in the Home Park . On several Wild Hunts, Herns ghostly spirit has since been seen many times rushing across the Great Park what he is racing for is not known, some suspect he is looking for any lost souls wandering the land. The Ghosts of Windsor Castle! | British Paranormal The Ghosts of Windsor Castle! Posted by By Al Cuin at 30 August, at 21 : 14 PM Print The Ghosts of Windsor Castle: Spare a thought for the poor old Queen.

She may rule 17 countries, have dozens of castles and palaces and possess the most expensive collection of jewellery in the world, but Her Majesty has also to contend with living alongside countless ghosts and ghouls. And if that wasn’t bad enough, half those ghosts are family. Windsor Castle in particular, suffers from its fair share of paranormal activity. Built in the reign of William the Conquerer, Windsor castle is nearly 1000 years old. Since the Middle Ages, thousands of souls have crossed-over within the confines of the Castles. Some, however, appear to have chosen to stay firmly put, becoming part of the castle’s ever growing population of ghosts. British Paranormal takes a look at the ghosts of Windsor Castle and names our favourite royal spectres. The Ghost of Henry VIII Henry VIII, the Tudor King who ruled England and Wales during the 16th Century, is Windsor Castle’s most famous ghostly resident. The royal tyrant, who famously dissolved the monasteries and broke from the Catholic Church, is reputed to have been witnessed many times in spirit form, wandering the halls and corridors of the Castle. Observers describe a large anxious, angry man pacing furiously and occasionally shouting as well.

The Ghost of Anne Boleyn The second most famous Windsor Castle ghost is that of Anne Boleyn, one time wife to Henry VIII and former queen of England. Anne was executed in 1536 having been found guilty of charges of treason, adultery and witchcraft. She was beheaded at the Tower of London. Anne is alleged to haunt the Dean’s Cloister at Windsor Castle. Her ghostly form has been seen peering from a window. She is variously described as looking sad, distressed and occasionally weeping. The Ghost of Elizabeth I Elizabeth I has a specific fondness for dropping-in on her (horizontal) ancestors. The inspirational monarch, who spared England a bloody religious war and stood-up against the tyranny of Spain appears to be watching over her distant royal successors, occasionally paying them a visit at Windsor, perhaps to remind them of the shoes they have to fill. Mad King George III, who spent many a long, lonely night at Windsor Castle, once claimed to have conversed with a spectral woman dressed in black, who called herself Elizabeth and claimed to be “married to England’. One hundred years later, Edward VII is alleged to have confided in one of his mistresses about a strange ghostly encounter he had had in Windsor Castle.

He described a woman in black, who resembled the great Tudor queen. Elizabeth’s visitations are said to become particularly frequent during times of war. George VI, the present Queen’s father, is said to have observed the ghost of Elizabeth I on eight consecutive nights, during the opening days of the Second World War. The Ghost of Mad King George III King George III was a troubled soul. He suffered from several spells of mental illness during his reign, eventually culminating in a regency, which resulted in his royal executive powers being transferred to his son George, the Prince of Wales. During the King’s periods of ill-health he would be taken away from London and kept out of public view. Windsor Castle was regularly used to cloister the King. The monarch spent many a long, cold, lonely night hidden deep within the ancient walls, far from his wife and family. Perhaps it was this trauma that caused his spirit to linger on. The ghost of George III has been witnessed since the Victorian era, mournfully peering through windows and doors. The Ghost of Queen Victoria Clearly Queen Victoria was “not amused” by the alterations made to the Castle grounds by her great grandson, Edward VIII.

Although Edward only reigned in theory, the errant King quickly set about modifying the grounds of Windsor Castle following his father’s death. When his lover, Wallace Simpson, requested the removal of a family of spruce trees planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, he was quick to oblige. The work was hampered however by a number of inexplicable phenomena. Workmen in 1936 even claimed to have seen the ghostly figure of Victoria striding towards them from the Castle, waving her arms and moaning loudly.

Question: Which English queen is said to haunt the library at Windsor Castle?
Answer: ELIZABETH I